Monday, June 26, 2017 | 2 a.m.

Recent surveys and studies suggest the majority of Americans are missing the mark for at least one essential vitamin or mineral. That lack seldom leads to a full-blown deficiency, but it plays a role in the bigger picture of an individuals health.

Three-fourths of all Americans are taking some sort of supplement, the most common being a multivitamin, said Duffy MacKay, a licensed naturopathic doctor and senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs with the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a leading trade association of the booming supplement industry in the U.S. People dont exactly know what they are short on.

According to the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, vitamin D, calcium, potassium and fiber top the list. Since the 1940s, supplements have been sold as an answer to nutrition gaps, and consumers are buying the probiotics, fish oils and proprietary blends promising to make us whole.

Those promises need attention.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is tasked with ensuring the safety of what we consume, especially when it comes to controlled substances. But in 1994, supplements were federally classified as food, meaning oversight and enforcement would be much less stringent. It wasnt until December 2015 that the FDA created a standalone Office of Dietary Supplement Programs, augmenting the research-based Office of Dietary Supplements within the National Institutes of Health, and elevating the mission to protect public health by rooting out products that pose some risk.

However, a Los Angeles Times column by consumer-affairs watchdog David Lazarus suggested that the already small budget of the new FDA office reportedly less than $5 million to police a $37 billion industry was threatened under President Donald Trump. If the funding cuts Trump proposed for the Department of Health and Human Services manifest, Lazarus wrote, its almost a sure thing that people increasingly will be at greater risk when it comes to the safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter supplements.

Damon McCune, director of UNLVs Didactic Program for Nutrition and Dietetics, says there are probably tens of thousands of products on the market. That number is fluid, he said, and I imagine changes every day.

Thats because its relatively easy to bring supplements to commercial shelves, and consumers tend to be quick to trust the packaging. Until a stronger system is established for evaluating and enforcing supplement efficacy and safety, the public must arm itself with information.

Mona Shield Payne

A variety of unique fruits and vegetables can be found beautifully displayed at the International Marketplace located at 5000 S. Decatur in Las Vegas on January 28, 2013.

A FOOD-FIRST STRATEGY IS BEST

Dietary guidelines have changed over the years, from the Food Guide Pyramid to MyPlate.

The Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard says nutrient retention is maximized when food is minimally processed and doesnt have to travel very far.

Food with color, especially bold color, contains more healthy phytochemicals, Prevention magazine reported. Also: bigger isnt better when it comes to nutrient density.

A 2013 study published in the journal PLOS ONE showed cooking vegetables upped nutrient density, and beans won for nutrition per penny.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has done a lot of good research, said Crystal Petrello, a registered dietitian and past-president of the Nevada Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She says that while people might get recommended amounts of protein, the produce portion of a balanced diet is where they falter. People should be getting between nine and 11 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The average person gets one or two servings, Petrello said. And they consider spaghetti sauce or ketchup as part of that.

Clinical research and common sense support the idea that a diet packed with fresh, nutrient-rich foods helps stave off debilitating conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Investing in fruits and veggies gives the most bang for your buck, Petrello said, adding that people should limit added sugar. Because the better the diet, the less need to supplement it.

Since 2011, the federal government has provided a personalized tool called MyPlate, which uses a persons age, sex, height, weight and activity level to calculate a diet plan. Using its Daily Checklist, you can enter your details and download the corresponding guide to food-group and calorie targets within these categories: protein, grain, fruits, vegetables, dairy.

With the help of two nutrition experts, Harvard Medical School compiled a list of foods dense in vitamins and minerals relative to the number of calories per serving: avocados, baked potatoes, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, eggs, fish (cod, halibut, salmon, scallops, shrimp, tuna), fruit (cantaloupe, papaya, raspberries, strawberries), grains (barley, brown rice, oats, quinoa), greens (chard, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach), lean meat (beef, lamb, venison), legumes (garbanzo, kidney, navy and pinto beans, lentils, peas), low-fat yogurt, mushrooms (cremini, shiitake), nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts), poultry (chicken, turkey), seeds (flax, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), sweet potatoes.

Shutterstock.com

WHAT ARE SUPPLEMENTS?

According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, in order to be identified as a dietary supplement, a product must:

1. Enhance the human diet

2. Contain one or more dietary ingredients

3. Be taken orally in whatever form

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association defines a dietary ingredient as any of the following: vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes and potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts. But supplements arent just about promoting health by filling in nutritional gaps or fortifying stores of particular vitamins and minerals. Some products advertise better mental, athletic or sexual performance. They might be natural, single-source extracts from plants or animal tissues, or targeted blends with chemically altered natural materials and others that are entirely synthetic.

How are supplements regulated?

Its a misconception that the industry isnt regulated, said Damon McCune, head of UNLVs Didactic Program for Nutrition and Dietetics. It is regulated, just very poorly. Dietary supplements are jointly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission.

FDA: Supplements dont need FDA approval before going to market, though companies must notify the agency of their product information and intent to sell. The onus is on the FDA to investigate products and manufacturing facilities and prove something isnt safe in order to restrict use or remove items from shelves. (Supplements) go through a more rigorous process than food inspection and a less rigorous one than drugs, said the Council for Responsible Nutritions Duffy MacKay. Unlike prescription medications, supplements may only make claims about health broadly (though some companies break that rule), or about nutrient content or specific functions.

In its own effort to engage companies in bringing supplements to a level of consistent quality, the Council for Responsible Nutrition built a self-regulatory registry called the Supplement Online Wellness Library to help create a rich and more complete picture of the marketplace for regulators, retailers and industry.

FTC: The FTC tracks responsibility in advertising claims. If it comes down on a supplement brand for having misleading practices, MacKay said, it sends a message throughout the industry that encourages other companies to get in compliance. But with limited resources and so many supplements to watch, matters get complicated. Among factors making regulation more difficult is abundant misinformation on the internet, MacKay says. Just remember there are no magic bullets or quick fixes ...

Proven supplements work well for ...

From Carol Haggans, registered dietitian and consultant for the National Institutes of Healths Office of Dietary Supplements:

It is possible to overdose. ... All vitamins and minerals have a recommended intake, which is the amount people should strive to get from foods and, if needed, dietary supplements each day.

Vitamin A is one nutrient that can cause serious problems at high doses, including birth defects if a woman is pregnant. Iron can also be toxic at high intakes. Even some of the B-vitamins can cause problems at high doses.

Some vitamins, like B12, do not have an upper limit because they have not been found to be toxic at high doses. But even if there is no upper limit, consuming more than the recommended amount doesnt necessarily have any benefit.

Early in her journey to becoming a registered dietitian, Crystal Petrello said, she was obstinate when it came to incorporating supplements.

I saw it as a snake-oil industry, and people were spending so much money, she said.

But after working in the nutrition field, her mind was changed about the potential of certain products. She says she has experienced the benefits of supplements, though dietitians and even supplement-industry officials agree the approach to better health should be food first.

There is a magic we dont understand when it comes to eating food, said Dr. Duffy MacKay, a licensed naturopathic physician and senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for trade group the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Some cool stuff happens when you eat a salad.

Carol Haggans, a registered dietitian and consultant for the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, said it is possible to get all essential nutrients by eating a nutritious variety of foods, though there are exceptions.

For example, all women who might become pregnant should get 400 micrograms of folic acid a day from either fortified foods or dietary supplements, she said. And men and women over 50 should get the recommended amounts of vitamin B12 from fortified foods or dietary supplements, because they might have trouble absorbing the vitamin B12 that is naturally present in food. According to the NIH, scientific evidence backs some supplement use for overall health, such as taking calcium and vitamin D to fortify bones.

Damon McCune, who directs UNLVs Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics, said that while there are legitimate cases for taking supplements, consumers too often dont consult physicians and dietitians about potential benefits and harmful interactions with other over-the-counter products or prescription medications. He also said food provides trace nutrients that supplements cant, and that people jump to them too quickly without considering dietary changes that might pack more nutrition at a lower cost.

The first thing people get wrong is that an overwhelming number dont need supplements. People use supplements in place of food, McCune said. They are marketed so well that people go to them first.

MacKay disagrees. He said studies have shown that supplement users already engage in healthy habits, from regulating their diets to staying away from cigarettes. Im not going to be popular for saying this, but Ive heard this statement from the dietitian community forever, he said. People arent using supplements to offset terrible habits. Thats a myth.

He further asserted that even the most health-conscious eaters might miss important nutrients. We all travel, get stressed and eat birthday cake, he said. A multivitamin is a good insurance policy.

Most people arent aware of their nutrient intake on a level specific enough to inform what needs supplementing, so conversations with a dietitian are a way to get started. Once youve created a food log and broken down your diet, you can apply Dietary Reference Intakes recommended by the Institute of Medicines Food and Nutrition Board.

Shutterstock

KNOW THE RISKS

The most glaring cautionary tale in the supplement world might be ephedra. Products containing the plants ephedrine alkaloids were marketed for weight loss and athletic performance, but the Food and Drug Administration banned the ingredient in 2004 after it was linked to heart problems and strokes. According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 800 reports of serious toxicity were collected by the FDA, including more than 22 deaths. Yet some related extracts not included in the ban are still sold.

Weight loss and bodybuilding remain high-risk supplement categories, though theyre overshadowed by a newer one: sexual enhancement.

In 2013, a study was published by the Journal of the American Medical Association that looked at all FDA Class I recalls those for which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death from 2004 to 2012. Researchers found that 51 percent were dietary supplements. Sexual enhancement products were the most common offender, followed by those purported to bulk up or slim down the body.

All of these supplement recalls were rooted in unapproved active pharmaceutical ingredients, also known as hidden drugs.

These ingredients, generally undeclared in the labeling, can pose considerable dangers to consumers, read a 2010 FDA letter to manufacturers of dietary supplements.

That same year, a report to Congress from the Government Accountability Office found that nearly all herbal supplements it tested had trace amounts of contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic or pesticide. While heavy metals were within safe limits, 40 percent of the products tested contained enough pesticide to exceed the legal limit, according to The New York Times, which also flagged illegal health claims related to Alzheimers disease, cancer and diabetes.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition works to warn consumers, says the trade groups senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, Duffy MacKay, but there is a prevailing lack of research into many manufacturer claims.

MacKay says one positive example is probiotics, live bacterial cultures believed to support gut health. Its a juggernaut of a trend, so companies are incentivized to invest in study-backed development.

The stalwarts of the vitamin aisle have significant market share, partly because theyre familiar enough for consumers to trust their value.

Calcium and vitamin D are important for keeping bones strong and reducing bone loss; folic acid decreases the risk of certain birth defects, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils might help some people with heart disease, says registered dietitian and National Institutes of Health consultant Carol Haggans. Other supplements need more study.

15 supplement ingredients to avoid

Consumer Reports ongoing series, The Truth About Supplements, is reviewing the research and talking with medical experts to find out whether common supplements live up to their marketing hype and whether they are safe to take. As part of that effort, a March report listed 15 ingredients to always avoid, as they can cause organ damage, cancer and cardiac arrest. Moreover, the report read, our experts agree that none of these supplement ingredients provide sufficient health benefits to justify the risk.

The 15 that made the list were: aconite, caffeine powder, chaparral, coltsfoot, comfrey, germander, greater celandine, green tea extract powder, kava, lobelia, methylsynephrine, pennyroyal oil, red yeast rice, usnic acid, yohimbe.

HOW TO SHOP SMART

Damon McCune with UNLVs nutrition and dietetics program said anyone could claim the title of nutritionist, so seek out a registered dietitian trained to adhere to certain standards.

But keep in mind that credentials arent a guarantee of sound advice. Whether youre dealing with a dietitian or a medical doctor, McCune said its OK to get a second opinion if it doesnt feel right, especially in the age of Dr. Oz. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon with a leadership position in Columbia Universitys medical school and a network talk show themed around health and wellness. Oz has been criticized for featuring miracle products that in some cases have been discredited (in 2014 he was brought before Congress to answer for giving viewers false hopes, and the following year a group of prominent physicians called for his firing from Columbia).

Dont always take it as gospel, McCune said. There should be a high level of responsibility on the consumer. People need to learn to be more savvy.

Tips for choosing products

1. The fewer ingredients, the better.

2. If provided daily percentages are way above federal guidelines, be wary.

3. If a supplement lists a proprietary blend, unapproved substances may be hiding.

4. When choosing a multivitamin, tailor it to your age, gender and other characteristics (such as pregnancy) to ensure the mix of ingredients suits your needs.

5. Understanding ingredient lists is one thing. Recognizing the marks of vetted products is another. Third-party verifications are available through organizations such as ConsumerLab.com, Informed-Choice, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention and Good Manufacturing Practice. Companies have to pay for their services, and some forego the option. They conduct tests on dietary supplements to check for things such as contaminants, potency and absorption, said National Institutes of Health consultant Carol Haggans. These programs provide assurance that a supplement was properly manufactured, that it contains the ingredients listed on the label and that it does not contain harmful levels of contaminants though these organizations do not test the product to determine whether or not it is actually effective.

6. Try Google Scholar to check out research firsthand. And read multiple articles, McCune said. Dont just read one that supports what you want to hear and ignore the 10 others that say the opposite.

7. Registered dietitian Crystal Petrello recommends the similar resource Examine and the NIHs Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Just because it says its natural doesnt mean its safe, Petrello said. Arsenic is natural.

Watch for interactions and report any issues

Interactions: Consumers should always check with their doctors to make sure theyre not introducing something that could harm them depending on what they already take, prescription or over-the-counter. The Mayo Clinic offers an online database listing known interactions with 40 common supplements, from acidophilus to zinc.

Recalls: This FDA site logs recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts. If you experience adverse effects after taking a supplement, you can report it to the FDA through its MedWatch portal.

Original post:

A beginner's guide to dietary supplements - Las Vegas Sun

According to a new market report published by Credence Research,Acerola Extract Market Growth, Future Prospects and Competitive Analysis, 2017 2025, theglobal acerola extract market is expected to reach over US$ 15,763.8 Mn by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2017 to 2025.

Market Insights

The global acerola extract market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period 2017 to 2025. Growing preference for healthy fruit based products is anticipated to drive the demand for the acerola extract. The global acerola extract market is projected to reach US$ 15,763.8 million by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2017 to 2025.

Browse the full report at http://www.credenceresearch.com/report/acerola-extract-market

By form, acerola extract market segmentation includes powder and liquid forms; of which, in 2016, powder form dominated the market in terms of revenue contribution and is further expected to remain dominant during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025. Currently, growing demand for vitamins and health supplements, particularly in functional foods is fueling the demand for powdered form of acerola extract. However, liquid form segment is expected to register high growth in the near future. Owing to advantages such as natural color, rich vitamin C content, flavor, antioxidant property, and dough improvement, liquid formulations of acerola extract are anticipated to witness significant adoption among food and beverage manufacturers. Owing to growing consumption and rising demand for natural ingredients for preservation of meat products the demand for acerola extract in meat products is expected to gain adoption among manufacturers over the coming years.

On the basis of applications, the global acerola extract market is segmented into food supplements, beverages, confectionery, snacks, meat, bakery and others. Among these, food supplements segment dominated the market and accounted for 26.7% share of the global market in 2016. This segment is projected to maintain its dominance over the next eight years. Rising demand for organic and stable ingredients in food and beverage products is a key factor driving growth acerola extract market. Some of the other factors fuelling the acerola extract market growth (primarily in varied food applications) include demand for natural preservative solutions, ingredients with enhanced oxygen-scavenging properties in meat products, improved color and curing properties, maintenance of nutritional efficacy, particularly if used in cured and raw meat products.

For the purpose of this study, the global acerola extract market is categorized into regional markets viz., North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America and Middle East and Africa. In base year 2016, North America was observed as the largest market for acerola extract. In Asia Pacific, China and India serve potential markets for acerola extract in the next five to six years. Growing consumption of beverages and meat products especially in China and India, along with commercialization measures for acerola extract as an ingredient in various food and beverage products fuel the acerola extract market growth.

Furthermore, companies present in North America and Europe are extensively focusing on research and development for developing blend formulations comprising acerola extract in various food & beverages products and companies are focusing on expanding their business network, across regional markets. Amway, Blue Macaw Flora, DIANA NATURALS, Duas Rodas Industrial, Herbal Bio Solutions, Natures Power Nutraceuticals Corp., Naturex, Nichirei Corporation, NutriBotanica, Optimally Organic Inc., The Green Labs LLC. and Vita Forte Inc. are few key manufacturers in acerola extract market.

Key Trends:

Growing consumer inclination towards natural products

Increasing array of applications

Asia pacific is expected to register the highest growth rate

High prices of acerola extract products is acting as a restrain to growth of the market

Strong Demand from Emerging Economies

Download Free Sample Request: http://www.credenceresearch.com/sample-request/58300

Here is the original post:

Global Acerola Extract Market Size Is Expected To Reach Over US$ 15763.8 Mn By 2017 To 2025 - Technorati

According to a new market report published by Credence ResearchGlobal Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Market Growth, Future Prospects and Competitive Analysis, 2016 2023, theMethylsulfonylmethane (MSM) market is expected to reach over US$ 10 Bn by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 7% from 2016 to 2023

Market Insights

The demand for methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) has grown globally owing to rise in cases of bone fractures, back and neck pain, arthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatism among others. This phenomenon has gained significant attention from people and government across the globe. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) helps the body to form new joint and muscle tissue while reducing inflammatory responses, which contributes to stiffness and swelling; therefore, it is considered as a prominent ingredient in food supplements category. Moreover, rising awareness regarding health concern and benefits associated with consumption of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is another factor contributing towards the market growth.

Browse the fullMethylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Market- Market Growth, Future Prospects and Competitive Analysis, 2016 2023 report at http://www.credenceresearch.com/report/methylsulfonylmethane-market

On the basis of application, the global methylsulfonylmethane market is segmented into food & beverage, pharmaceutical & dietary supplements, cosmetics & personal care, animal feed and other industries (agriculture, urban waste handling and etc.). Methylsulfonylmethane is widely used in pharmaceutical & dietary supplements industry as it functions as a pharmaceutically active agent. In 2015, pharmaceutical & dietary supplements accounted for the largest share of more than 55% of the total MSM market by volume.

Global Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) market is segmented by geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. In 2015, North America led the global MSM market and was followed by Asia Pacific and Europe. Together, the regions accounted more than 80% share of the market. This is due to prominent ageing population in North America, Europe and certain countries in Asia.

Bergstrom Nutrition, Inc., Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd., Yueyang Xiangmao Medicines & Chemicals Co., Ltd., Makana Produktion und Vertrieb GmbH, Vita Flex Nutrition, ZhuZhou Hansen Chemical Co, Ltd., Panvo Organics Pvt. Ltd., Chaitanya Biologicals Pvt. Ltd, Tianjin Baofeng Chemical Co., Ltd and Hangzhou Dakang New Materials Co., Ltd. are few key manufacturers in methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) market.

Key Trends:

Request Here For Sample:http://www.credenceresearch.com/sample-request/58398

Read more here:

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Market Is Expected To Reach Over US$ 10 Bn By 2023, Expanding At A CAGR Of 7 ... - Technorati

Transparency Market Research describes the market for nutrition and supplement packaging in its entirety, including the factors that currently influence its growth and the ones that are likely to do so over the coming years. Supplements and Nutrition Packaging Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 2025, is thus a detailed account of the drivers, restraints, and opportunities shared by the leading players as well as new entrants alike, for the given forecast period. Supplements and nutrients are commonly consumed in most parts of the modern world as they improve the overall nutritive consumption rate of individuals on a regular basis. One of the key factors essential for the growth of this market is the increase in awareness among consumers and the knowledge of the various nutrients and their value when taken in supplement forms.

One of the primary drivers of the global supplements and nutrition packaging market is the surge in demand for advanced packaging options from the industries of pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages. This is because both industries are experiencing a nearly exponential rate of growth in the demand for nutritional additives as well as supplements. More and more consumers are taking to functional foods that are rich in specific nutrients as well as consuming supplements in order to maintain a rounded dietary routine. A large number of supplements require specialized packaging similar to pharmaceutical drugs to maintain product integrity, thereby increasing the scope of growth for packaging manufacturers in this field.

Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22502

The common types of packaging available in the global supplements and nutrition packaging market include canisters, blisters, bottles, and capsules. The choice of the type of packaging largely depends on what supplements or nutritive foods are in need. As the demand for these foods and supplements increases, so will the demand for their packaging, and it is very likely for the global supplements and nutrition packaging market to witness a generous CAGR over the coming years.

From a regional point of view, North America has consistently been at the top of the game, thanks to a larger urban population aware of the existence and benefits of supplements and nutritive foods, as well as the strong presence of some of the top players in the market. Over the coming years, Europe is expected to witness a phenomenal rate of growth in demand for supplements and nutrition packaging thanks to a high volume of the geriatric demographic as well as an increasingly aware population. Asia Pacific is also expected to show a high rate of growth over the coming years due to a booming growth rate of urban population in key countries.

The leading players in the global supplements and nutrition packaging market so far, have included Moluded Packaging Solutions Limited., Alpha Packaging, Container & Packaging Supply Inc., Arizona Nutritional Supplements, LLC, Graham Packaging Company, LP, Comar, LLC, and Packacre Enterprises Limited.

Originally posted here:

Supplements & Nutrition Packaging: Food & Pharma Demand for Advanced Packaging on the Rise - Edition Truth

Q: My son is playing football and between the " voluntary" practices, 7-on-7 practices and position practices along with weight training with the team, he is losing weight. Are protein supplements a good idea for him to start using?

A: A protein supplement is still food. Whey is the most popular form of protein on the market now followed by soy, egg, meat, pea and hemp. Protein supplements, in general, are usually good-tasting when compared to how they tasted and mixed years ago.

Why would you use a protein supplement? If you're trying to maintain growth and recovery, a teenage male athlete would want to consume between .7 and one gram of protein each day for each pound of body weight. If you can't get that from food sources, then a supplement is a good idea. Sometimes kids just don't eat enough or at the most opportune time in order support maximum growth and recovery.

A protein drink after training is quickly broken down into amino acids and absorbed. This is an extreme over-simplification but consider eating a chicken breast. Hypothetically, there are five stages of breaking it down to a point that it is amino acids and your body utilizes it. Whey protein mixed in water requires only three stages to be broken down for utilization. Whey isolate protein is a two-stage process. The protein supplement is available for the body to use quickly so you can understand how it can be supportive for growth and recovery. Taking a good multi-vitamin/ mineral supplement also is a good thing to help maintain strong bones and B vitamins are essential for protein absorption. Don't use supplements as meal replacements. Eat healthy and drink plenty of water. Water is an essential part of muscle and for proper kidney function. God bless and keep training.

Daryl Laws is a certified personal trainer and owner of Body Unlimited Inc., 325 Holly Hill Lane, Burlington, NC 27215. Contact him at 336-538-0012 or daryllaws@aol.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BodyUnlimited.

Read the original post:

Protein supplements are considered food - Burlington Times News

Cutline :Stock photo

Dietary supplements are intended to complement a diet and provide what a person may lack nutritionally based on daily habits, medicines they're taking or other outside factors.

"Supplements [cover] a multitude of things. Whether we're talking about vitamins, minerals, herbal products, it's anything that we use to add to ... whatever lifestyle choices you have for various reasons. It's not a replacement, it's an addition," says Carrie Beth Smith, PharmD and Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Smith says there has been a wide range of research done on supplementation.

"Most people who use supplementation use it because they recognize that they have a deficiency in some area," she says. "That's why most of us take a multivitamin because we're not sure if we get everything we need from our diet."

A number of people who take supplements may be doing it to provide their body with something to compensate for an insufficiency caused by medical reasons or conditions.

Cutline :Stock photo

"Some people use different supplements to assist in care for certain conditions. They use them to help benefit their body for certain conditions and it's a broad range," Smith says. "People use supplements for, pick a topic, and somebody will probably tell you, 'Oh, there's a supplement for that.'"

All the nutrients we need could have been sourced from our diet 60 or more years ago according to Smith. As time has gone on, more automated options, chemicals and pesticides have come into use and loss of soil nutrients from erosion have made those nutrients less easily obtained.

When considering the saying "You eat whatever your food eats," Smith says "most of the time we think about that for animals, but it's the same thing with fruits and vegetables because they get their nutrients from the soil. So if we're eating the fruits and vegetables to get the nutrients but the soil doesn't have what it used to, then the tomato your grandma or great-grandma ate is not the tomato you're eating today."

With those factors in mind, Smith also says every person's supplement needs (or lack thereof) will be different because every person has a distinctly different diet and lifestyle.

"There are certain things that probably are more predominantly geared toward or more necessary for men versus women," she says. "There are some things that go across the board that everybody probably needs a little bit of. To do supplementation appropriately, you look at the individual person and what that individual needs."

The main goal of supplementation is to get a person to a proper state of health. Once that goal has been met, Smith says supplementation can most likely be reduced.

"Once your body's in a healthy mode and in a healthy place, then eating healthy and eating that variety, it's much easier to get what you need (in terms of vitamins and minerals)," she says.

When it comes to supplementing for other reasons, Smith says the conversation shifts. She says people often continue supplementing for years without considering whether or not they still need the supplements they're consuming.

"You have to think about, what's it doing for your body and then does your body really still need it?" she says.

This is a difficult question to consider, Smith says, because many healthcare providers may not have a definitive answer.

"Unless you have somebody who's really interested in supplementation and really has taken a personal interest in it, finding qualified individuals to speak to becomes difficult, to be perfectly honest," she says.

Enter physicians and pharmacists.

"When you have that physician/pharmacist team that both have an understanding of supplements and why supplementation is important and how to do it, then you can actually provide people with what their bodies need," Smith says.

And in most cases, Smith says speaking with a physician to order supplements is the safest option.

"The best quality supplements are those that physicians must order because the companies meet beyond the strictest standards of what's required for supplementations on the shelf at 'pick-your-drugstore,'" she says.

Although dietary supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, according to its website, firms that market supplements are required to ensure the product manufactured is safe, any claims made about the product are not false or misleading and the products comply with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and FDA regulations in all other respects.

The solution to any doubt in this case, Smith says, is looking for companies that work directly with physicians to supply supplements for their patients.

Smith also recommends speaking to a physician or pharmacist because they can best consider which medications a person may be on already and determine how certain supplements may interact with them.

"When you have a pharmacist/physician team that works together, you get the best of both worlds," she says.

Smith says the first step in moving from health to wellness is taking responsibility for one's own wellbeing and asking physicians and pharmacists the appropriate questions about dietary and supplemental needs.

"I'm a firm believer when your body gets what it needs it does what it was created to do," Smith says. "... Why wouldn't you want to be well?"

For more information about dietary supplements, visit https://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/default.htm.

Read the original here:

Clinical pharmacist Carrie Beth Smith discusses dietary supplements and their role in wellness - Southeast Missourian

Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on 23 June 2017 that the FSSAI is committed to ensuring robust and unambiguous standards for food supplements with the help of industry.

Addressing a FICCI seminar on Nutraceuticals - Seizing Growth Opportunities under Changing Economic and Regulatory Landscape held here today, Agarwal urged food processing industry players to work with the FSSAI on developing good manufacturing practices, document and adoption of it for overcoming challenges of spurious and dubious products flooding Indian markets.

Agarwal also mentioned that FSSAI is working with the central drug regulator to make a clear distinction between drug and food, which will clear a lot of ambiguity present among the stakeholders.

The other speakers in the inaugural session included Dr. B. Sesikeran, Chairman, Scientific Panel on Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Dietetic products and other similar products, FSSAI, Dr. A K Sharma, Consultant, FSSAI; Mr. Sanjaya Mariwala, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Nutraceuticals and Managing Director and CEO, OmniActive Health Technologies Ltd; Mr. Sandeep Ahuja, Chairman, FICCI - Wellness Committee and Executive Director, VLCC Healthcare Ltd and Dr. A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI.

Dr. A Didar Singh emphasized the need for having standards for food products and how FICCI can collaboratively work with FSSAI to further expand the scope of standards beyond the current standards.

Sanjaya Mariwala highlighted the growth opportunities in Nutraceuticals and its contribution to Make in India initiative. He also invite industry member to work collaboratively on matters related to GST.

The seminar was attended by about 100 participants from the nutraceuticals industry.

-ANI

Continue reading here:

FSSAI committed to robust and unambiguous standards for food supplements - Catch News

Uganda is so poor that few can afford medical care, giving it one of the lowest life-expectancies on the planet -- this toxic combination made the country ripe for infiltration by Tiens, a Chinese Multi-Level-Marketing "nutritional supplements" cult whose members set up fake medical clinics that diagnose fake ailments and proscribe fake medicines, then rope patients into becoming cult recruiters who convince their friends to sign up for the cult.

Al Jazeera outfitted an investigator with a hidden camera, and recorded her "diagnosis" and prescription by a fake doctor at a Tiens "clinic," then followed her through her induction into the cult at a series of high-pressure indoctrination sessions.

So we asked Halima to go to the weekly "training sessions" with her hidden camera.

This, we knew, was risky. I'd spoken to people who had been investigating MLM practices for years and they thought Halima, who would be attending training sessions over several weeks, might actually be in danger of being convinced and recruited.

She was going to be subjected to a barrage by the Tiens motivational speakers. We couldn't be with her the whole time, so we agreed to monitor her with regular phone discussions to check that she was not suddenly having unrealistic dreams of becoming rich through selling food supplements.

Luckily she isn't so easily fooled, and was able to document how Tiens convinces people to stay loyal through reinforcement of the idea that distributors are starting a new life and by its unrelenting "blame and shame" rhetoric about personal failure and not selling enough products. Only their inadequacies and doubts - and those of sceptical family and friends who should, of course, be dropped - were barriers to the recruits achieving great wealth.

When we met up with Michael Halangu, a former Tiens distributor, he confirmed these were the same techniques that had kept him in the business for years. In our interviews he was open about how they fooled him and how much money he lost, but the psychological impact had gone deeper; although he could see all the aspects of the scam, he still blamed himself for not having made a success of it.

But while it is clear that the poor, weak and vulnerable are particularly susceptible to such schemes, even strong people can succumb under enough pressure. Michael is an intelligent and determined man with a college degree, and we even met a university professor among the distributors at one Tiens event we attended.

Eventually, as you will see, we were able to put some of the points raised in this film to a Tiens representative. The company told us about its 5,000 distributors in Uganda and its operations across the African continent and how if people worked hard enough they too could enjoy the cars and yachts and millionaire lifestyles that their top distributors enjoyed. The company was less illuminating about those who hadn't been so lucky - or those of its distributors who, after carrying out bogus medical diagnoses, were happy to con gullible members of the public into buying Tiens products.

Uganda's Health Pyramid [Priya Biring/Al Jazeera]

(via Super Punch)

Yahoos sale to Verizon means that Yahoos sub-companies Flickr, Tumblr and a host of others are now divisions of a phone company, and as you might expect, being on the payroll of a notorious neutracidal maniac with a long history of sleazy, invasive, privacy-destroying, monopolistic, deceptive, anti-competitive, scumbag shakedowns has changed the public []

What was last week posed as an indefinite leave of absence is now for good: Travis Kalanick, CEO of scandal-wracked rideshare company Uber, announced that he is leaving the company. I love Uber more than anything in the world and at this difficult moment in my personal life I have accepted the investors request to []

Chinese state media reports on a $28/RMB188 app that browses webcams whose default passwords havent been changed, allowing subscribers to watch the goings-on in stores, living rooms, bedrooms, childrens rooms, and anywhere a CCTV might be installed.

Even though credit cards now feature an EMV chip for securing transactions, they still have to include the magnetic strip for compatibility with older point of sale systems. Because of this, theres no way for the chips new security capabilities to protect against card skimmers in the wild.How do you protect yourself from legacy-technology-induced fraud? []

As the old saying goes, You should sit in meditation for 30 minutes every day. Unless you are too busy, in which case you should meditate for an hour. Since most of us have an endless list of things to do and people to see, carving out quiet time can feel impossible, especially when most []

The Bragi Dash Truly Wireless Smart Earphones are far more than your run of the mill Bluetooth earbuds. While the earpiece design makes these earbuds ideal for exercise and activity, and passive noise cancelling is conducive to a more serene listening experience, these buds go well beyond just playing music.First of all, they can actually []

Visit link:

A Chinese vitamin MLM cult is replacing healthcare for poor Ugandans - Boing Boing

There has always been money in testosterone, but especially now. The world is awash in ads for products that enhance and support testosterone levels. They promise health and virility. They are predicated on the contested assumption that there is a widespread dearth of testosteronethat more problems lie in scarcity than surplus.

Among these products is a potion known as Super Male Vitality. A single two-ounce vial costs $59.95. (The retail price on the sellers website is given as $69.95, but that price has been conspicuously crossed out.)

For buyers who are not convinced by the discount and the phallic applicator and the promise of some kind of superior maleness, there is the question of what this product is. Its seller claims: As men age, they may often experience a slow-down in vitality, energy, and overall wellness, so Super Male Vitality is specifically designed to assist the body in regulating proper balance to create superior vitality in males.

The liquid is a mix of widely available herbs. The reason many people seem to believe it creates superior vitality in males is that the liquid is sold at a store called Infowarswhich you may know as the media business owned by Alex Jones, who you may know as the man who takes his shirt off and yells a lot, and who believes that the massacre of children at Sandy Hook was a hoax, and who has said tap water is a gay bomb.

Jones was in the news this week regarding an interview with NBCs Megyn Kelly, which was diffusely criticized for the fact of even giving air time to Jones. He is often described as a media personality or commentator, and his radio show is widely syndicated, and his videos have been seen millions of times onlinethough he distances himself from the media in any sense. He might better be described as a provocateur, thena person in the business of getting attention.

At some point, of course, that attention needs to be turned into money. That seems to be where Super Male Vitality and the rest of Jones health business comes in. Buzzfeed reported last month that according to multiple former Infowars employees, the supplements were what really turned Infowars into a media empire that caters to conspiracy-minded consumers, estimating annual sales in the tens of millions of dollars. (Its not just Super Male Vitality: Infowars also sells a product called Brain Force Plus, and another called Caveman, which will invite users to rediscover the human blueprint, and experience the power of cutting edge science.) One former employee said Jones can sell 500 supplements in an hour.

These supplements seem to be more than a part of the business model, but the core of it. Infowars does not operate like a newspaper or magazine, by selling ad space to third parties.

Last month in New York magazine, Seth Brown detailed that Jones makes no money from selling ads on his radio show, which amounts to a widely syndicated four-hour infomercial for supplements. An examination of his business seems to indicate that the vast majority of Infowars revenue comes from sales of these dietary supplements. Infowars isnt a media empireits a snake-oil empire.

Infowars didnt reply to my request to discuss some products health claims and sales. Though a representative did tell me that in the future I should address questions about the supplement business to an account called whistleblower@infowars.com, the existence of which seems like an admission of something.

The store itself is heavily fortified with legal caveats for its health claims, like The information contained in the Website is provided for informational purposes only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your doctor or other health care professional.

So to be clear: The information is for informational purposes only.

Though even this is not quite true. The fine print actually says that the act of reading the information absolves Infowars and Alex Jones of any responsibility for conveying that information. (By using this site for any purpose whatsoever, including reading, browsing, studying you are agreeing to indemnify Infowars from any claims or responsibility for anything which may result there from, and you accept sole responsibility for any legal, medical, or financial liability which may occur as a result of your usage of the pages on this site.)

The company is not responsible for the information, or for the act of selling products that make unsubstantiated health claims. You the reader are responsible for the act of using the page. This is the sort of setup for which consumer protection exists. Of course, Jones rants against all sorts of consumer-protection measures, entities, and ideas. He has a vested interest in it remaining that way.

It was in fact because of an expensive campaign of fear-of-government-mongering by the supplement industry that Jones and others are able to sell these medicinal concoctions without the government getting in their way. The 1994 Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act effectively lets anyone sell medicineso long as its not explicitly medicines, but ingestible non-food products that claim to improve health. More specifically, a product cant be sold to treat or cure a specific disease, as pharmaceuticals are, but a supplement can claim to provide health, vitality, cardiovascular support, joint functionality, brain wellness, et cetera.

The law has led to much consumer confusion and piles of money wasted on products that may or may not be offering support or vitality or enhancement. But it has been a boon for industry. Instead of paying hundreds of millions of dollars to bring a product to market as a vetted pharmaceutical, anyone can go to market with a potion or pill or whatnot. This is acknowledged in a dark grey font on a black background on Infowars: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Meanwhile much more visibly, right next to the product, buyers are assured: As always, we offer what we have researched and believe to be the highest quality selection of products for you and your family that have been developed along with the advisory of top doctors and experts.

Only one doctor and/or expert is named on the site. He is referred to as Dr. Edward Group, and he is the person credited with inventing the Infowars supplement concoctions. It was he who created the most powerful herbal male hormonal support product on the market, Super Male Vitality. And it was Group who explained in an Infowars Youtube video called The B12 Conspiracy that everyone is deficient in B12 because of all the pesticides and everything else that's been sprayed on the soil. Infowars also sells vitamin B12 (as most pharmacies do for a few dollars). Though the Infowars product is called Secret 12, and it costs $29.99.

I find no leading expert who agrees that all people are deficient in B12or even that many people are. In particular cases, a B12 supplement may be beneficialbut this is a discussion for a particular patient with their particular doctor who knows their particular case. Apart from certain few other casesvitamin D in certain people, folic acid in pregnant females, vitamin C in 18th-century transoceanic seamensupplements do not help us.

Group is a chiropractor. He is pictured on his web site in a white coat and scrubs, signifying to clients some belonging in the medical profession. His website lists multiple media appearances, the recurring theme being opposition to Western medicine. For example, he told The New York Times in 2009, Western medicine is treating the symptoms instead of addressing the root cause.

This is a mantra of alternative and naturopathic healers. Its, of course, true. Like Joness conspiracy theories, its based in truth and plausibility. But it can be true that the U.S. health-care system is built around a fee-for-service model that ignores the causes of diseaseand it can simultaneously be true that the answer to the problem is not to spend your money on Super Male Vitality or other dietary supplement pills, powders, and potions. They risk providing a false security and distract from addressing the root cause of disease. And it is not a discussion to be had with a doctor who also sells supplementsmuch less at exorbitant markups.

Yet worse than all this is that these sales tactics are predicated on sowing distrust in what is actually known. The near consensus of actual leading experts is that eating mostly minimally processed plant-based foods is the best way to keep a body nourished. If there are indeed effects of certain herbs on human testosterone levelsa plausible conceptit is not likely necessary to pay exorbitantly for ultra-concentrated vials. In addition to lack of evidence, the products validity is undermined by the fact that Infowars also sells a potion called Super Female Vitality. It does not mention testosterone. The list of ingredients is almost identical.

Though it ends in ellipses.

View original post here:

Testosterone Wars - The Atlantic

Nearly one-third of the advertisements for memory-boosting supplements reviewed by a government watchdog may be illegally claiming to cure or prevent diseases like Parkinsons or Alzheimers, according to a recent report. The report suggests that government regulation is failing to keep up with the growing supplement industry, but regulators arent prepared to actually fix the problem at its root.

Don't take your supplements lightly.

Over two months, investigators from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sorted through memory supplement marketing online, in print, on TV, and in stores. After analyzing 91 advertisements and labels in depth, they discovered 28 ads for 34 supplements that claimed a product could protect against or treat dementia, Parkinsons disease, or Alzheimers disease. Thats illegal; claims that a pill or concoction can treat, cure, or prevent diseases have to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The dietary supplement industry is massive, raking in an estimated $39 billion in sales in 2015. The portion catering to customers who want to improve their memories is growing nearly doubling from $353 million in 2006 to $643 million in 2015. Most of the advertising for these drugs is online, the GAO found. And the supplement makers are minimally regulated. Products can hit the shelves without being tested for safety or efficacy, and, often, without their labels being vetted for accuracy. "Its a challenge to take on an industry that's this large, says FDA spokesperson Lyndsay Meyer.

"Its a challenge to take on an industry that's this large.

The Senate Committee on Aging was concerned that aging consumers might be especially vulnerable to claims that one weird trick could stave off senior moments, so it asked the GAO to check in. The GAO shared the 28 examples it found with the FDA, which agreed 27 of them may have violated the law that generally bars supplement manufacturers from making disease claims.

But the agency has only taken action against a couple of the companies. It sent a warning letter to Utah-based Lifevantage Corp, and two online advisory letters to companies making similar statements: Healinginabottle.com for the product Immuno Boost Eximius, and Life Decoders, LLC, for Sheep Placenta Advanced Capsules marketed on stemcelltherapyplus.com. The FDA is monitoring the rest.

Healinginabottle.com has expired; an email to the account the FDA used to contact the company bounced, and the company didn't reply to a Facebook message. Stem Cell Therapy Plus' website still mentions Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease; spokesman Joe Cruz says the company has addressed the FDA's concerns.

Ryan Nadeau, a spokesperson for Lifevantage, noted that the website the FDA discussed in its warning letter, nrf2science.com, is not selling a Lifevantage product its discussing the protein that this product is purported to target. We definitely agree with the need for transparent advertising and making sure that you stay within the guidelines, Nadeau says. I mean youre talking about diseases its not something you want to con your way into.

The problem with deceptive marketing is that it could lead people to, at best, waste their money, and at worst, make dangerous health decisions. Most people believe when they go to the store and they're able to just pick it up off the shelf that this is something that the agency has reviewed for safety and efficacy. Or safety, at a minimum, the FDAs Meyer told The Verge. The way that the framework is set up for supplements in this country that's just not true.

Obviously its not ideal or optimal by any means for consumer protection.

Despite its latest findings, the GAO doesnt have any big regulatory or enforcement recommendations for the FDA, which oversees supplement labeling, or the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees advertising. Instead, the GAO recommended that the FDA and FTC clarify to consumers which agency to report concerns to involving Internet marketing. If this seems like an anemic response, thats because it is.

Obviously its not ideal or optimal by any means for consumer protection and other issues. But those were the cards we were dealt, says Seto Bagdoyan, a director of forensic audits and investigations for the GAO. And that's why we focused on our market research and also on the consumer awareness of these regulators respective roles.

The problems with supplement oversight go back to a 1994 law called the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, or DSHEA. Under this law, supplements are regulated as food, not drugs. That means that supplement makers arent required to prove their products are safe or effective before selling them. And while manufacturers are typically legally barred from making disease claims on product labels, the FDA generally doesnt approve labels before supplements hit the shelves.

So the agency can only reprimand companies that it catches breaking the rules. And catching wrongdoers is challenging, because the FDA doesnt have a comprehensive list of the supplements on the market. You can have concerns over products and then the products get renamed, says Joshua Sharfstein, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and former FDA deputy commissioner. There are so many aspects of this that are out of control at the same time.

Something negative has to happen before they take action.

In the past, the GAO has suggested that the FDA should come up with guidelines that spell out the scientific evidence companies need to back up claims like "calcium builds strong bones" on a products label. The GAO also said that the agency should ask Congress for the power to demand that supplement companies hand over that scientific evidence. Neither of these suggestions were implemented. They explained to us, once again, that they really are hamstrung in terms of their authorities, Bagdoyan says. The focus of their work is at the back end where something negative has to happen before they take action.

Thats why the GAOs recommendation is so unhelpful, especially since most consumers are unlikely to know whether a supplements advertising is illegal. Even if it were clearer where consumers should report concerns to, its hard to imagine that would make much of a difference. Adverse health events are already massively underreported (consumers and clinicians can report them here). Scientists with the CDC and FDA estimate that dietary supplements are associated with more than 23,000 emergency room visits annually. The FDA estimates that there are over 50,000 supplement-related health incidents each year. And yet only somewhere between 2 and 3 percent of these incidents are reported, according to a 2008 GAO report.

Until regulation of dietary supplements changes, Meyer sums up the bottom line for health-conscious consumers: Don't take your supplements lightly.

Follow this link:

Scammers selling fake cures for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are getting away with it - The Verge

The FSSAI on Thursday said presence of doping substances in food supplements posed a major challenge and efforts were needed to save the reputation of the supplements industry.

Pointing out that India stands at third position in doping cases, the FSSAI cautioned food supplements manufacturing and processing industry to be aware of the threat of doping substances in supplements.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) had circulated a list of banned drugs to the Food Safety Commissioners and Maharashtra had started enforcement against anti-doping practices, Food Safety and Standards Authority on India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

"Major enforcement exercise is going on in Maharashtra against anti-doping substances. You do need all these efforts to be taken up on an ongoing basis. It is to save the reputation of food supplements," he said at a seminar on nutraceuticals organised by FICCI here.

There have been reports that some supplement manufacturers add performance-enhancing and banned drugs in food supplements.

"In case of food supplements, major challenge we face is all kinds of spurious, dubious products in the market. There is growing instances of doping substances that are seen and being noticed in some of the food supplements," Agarwal said.

See the original post:

Banned drugs in food supplement major challenge: FSSAI - The Statesman

The North America dietary supplements market is expected to reach USD 68.22 billion by 2025

Rising consumer awareness regarding proper weight management and improvement of muscular strength is likely to boost the demand of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in North America, over the years ahead.

Consumers belonging to all age groups are focusing on enhancing their diet intake through utilization of nutritional food ingredients, owing to increasing publicity through media houses and e-commerce portals is expected to promote the scope of nutraceuticals including dietary supplements.

Leading corporates including Microsoft, IBM, ExxonMobil, AT&T, GM, and GSK have increased expenditure for the development of gymnasiums and fitness centers in their commercial offices. As a result, the health & wellness segment is expected to witness a noteworthy increase that is ultimately expected to play a crucial role in promoting the use of dietary supplements over the forecast period.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Methodology and Scope

2. Executive Summary

3. North America Dietary Supplements Market Variables, Trends, & Scope

4. North America Dietary Supplements: Ingredient Estimates & Trend Analysis

5. North America Dietary Supplements: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

6. North America Dietary Supplements: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

7. North America Dietary Supplements: End-use Estimates & Trend Analysis

8. North America Dietary Supplements: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis

9. Competitive Landscape

10. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fspbgl/north_america

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-america-dietary-supplements-market-2014-2017--2025---market-is-expected-to-reach-usd-6822-billion---research-and-markets-300478286.html

SOURCE Research and Markets

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

Go here to read the rest:

North America Dietary Supplements Market 2014-2017 & 2025 - Market is Expected to Reach USD 68.22 Billion ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Alibaba's (BABA) data on its 500 million users in China will be invaluable to U.S. sellers looking to break into the $4.89 trillion China retail market.

Alibaba invited certain U.S. small businesses to its conference on Tuesday and Wednesday in Detroit to teach them more about breaking into the China market. The invite list was focused on fashion, apparel and everyday goods, including cosmetics, bicycles, fresh food, supplements, baby products and running shoes, Alibaba president Michael Evans told TheStreet.

Alibaba CEO Jack Ma and other company executives used the Gateway '17 conference to convince the selected U.S. businesses that they can no longer ignore the opportunity to sell goods to China's population of 1.4 billion. Ma noted China has 300 million in the middle class that wants to buy higher quality products from the U.S. He expects the middle class in China to double to 600 million in the next 15 to 20 years.

The company wants to reach 2 billion users in the next decade, meaning it needs more sellers to sign up for its platform.

Here's a look at two specific items Alibaba highlighted at the conference for their popularity in the current China retail market.

1. Sneakers

Demand for running shoesis surging in China and New York-based sneaker consignment shop Stadium Goods is benefiting big time.

Stadium Goods CEO John McPheters spoke on Wednesday at Gateway '17 and said he knew he wanted to sell in China after a customer came into his New York store and bought $10,000 worth of Nike Air Jordans to resell back in China. "That opened our eyes to the opportunity," he said.

Continued here:

Alibaba Says Chinese Consumers Are Obsessed With Sneakers and Supplements - TheStreet.com

At some point in the past decade, screening blood for vitamin D levels became a routine part of medical care. Feeling a little low this winter? Get a vitamin D test. Think you didn't get enough sun last summer? Check your vitamin D levels.

Between 2000 and 2010, the amount Medicare spent on vitamin D testing rose 83-fold, making the test Medicares fifth most popular after cholesterol. All that screening also led to an explosion in vitamin D supplement use, and millions of Americans now pop daily vitamin D pills.

They mightve been encouraged by media reports over the past few years about the perils of getting too little of the sunshine vitamin. The supplements also seemed to be a cure-all: Many of us are confined to our computers, spending little time outdoors, and may feel we arent eating enough of the foods, like fish, that deliver vitamin D.

But as the interest in and testing for vitamin D has exploded, researchers have been wondering why so many people bother. Most of us actually get enough vitamin D without even trying. No high-quality study has found a benefit to screening asymptomatic adults, and putting people on treatment with supplements has also failed to demonstrably improve health outcomes.

That means when people seek out vitamin D tests and pop the supplement to alleviate the winter blues or prevent cancer, theres no evidence suggesting itll help them.

It would be great if you said the reason we screen is that we find out if a patient is low on vitamin D and we do something about it, we can prevent disease, says Dr. Clifford Rosen, one of the country's foremost experts on the health impact of vitamin D screening. Right now doctors can't confidently make that case.

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that you get from food, including fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks. Of course, it's also found in fortified foods, such as milk, orange juice, and cereal, and you get it from exposure to UV light.

You need vitamin D to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorous in your body, which keeps your bones strong and protects against osteoporosis and rickets.

In recent years, researchers have found associations between low levels of vitamin D and increased risk for a range of health problems, including fractures and falls, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, colorectal cancer, depressed moods, and even cognitive decline. As awareness about the importance of vitamin D for health has spread, so has the demand for testing.

So how much do you need? Less than 10 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D in the blood is considered much too little, a vitamin deficiency. When your levels hover around there, you might experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, bone pain, and fractures.

Most experts agree that you want your vitamin D blood level to be at least 20 nanograms per milliliter.

The good news: Most of us have this much in our bodies without even trying.

In 2010, the Institute of Medicine brought together an expert committee to review the evidence on the vitamin and figure out whether there was a widespread deficiency problem in North America. According to the 14-member panel, 97.5 percent of the population got an adequate amount of vitamin D from diet and the sun.

The panel did, however, identify a few key populations that seemed to have higher levels of deficiency: people with dark pigmentation (such as African Americans), older folks who live in nursing homes, melanoma patients, and people who cant absorb the vitamin as a result of diseases of the liver or bowel.

The controversies about the benefits of vitamin D reflect how science evolves, said Dr. Barry Kramer, director of the cancer prevention division at the National Cancer Institute.

Early research on the benefits of vitamin D was mostly observational large-scale, population-level studies and did not look at endpoints that are important for long-term health, like whether a high vitamin D intake reduces one's risk for particular diseases or death.

Researchers found associations between higher levels of vitamin D intake and a range of health benefits. "But with the observational studies especially when you're dealing with dietary supplements and diet taking supplements is also associated with many other confounding factors that predict the outcome: being wealthier, being health-conscious, having health insurance and access to the health care system, low smoking prevalence, increased physical exercise," said Kramer.

In other words, the people who were taking these vitamins were doing many other things that might have caused them to have better health outcomes. Still, this early science encouraged people to hop on the vitamin D bandwagon.

Since then, randomized trials that introduce vitamin D to one group and compare that group with a control group have been disappointing, showing little or unclear benefit for vitamin D testing and supplementation in healthy people. That Institute of Medicine report noted that randomized trials had uncovered no health benefit for healthy people with vitamin D blood levels that were higher than 20 nanograms per milliliter.

There are also well-documented costs associated with overtesting and getting too much vitamin D: the cost to the health system for all those tests, and the potential harms from high vitamin D levels, such as kidney stones and high calcium which can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

So until we have more and better studies on vitamin D, related testing and treatment are clouded with uncertainty and a lack of evidence for any benefit.

There's also the issue of defining vitamin D levels that are problematic. Experts agree that anything less than levels of 10 ng/mL of blood is worrisome or a deficiency, but when is someone insufficient? Is 20 ng/mL really enough? Should the minimum cutoff be 30 ng/mL?

According to the US Preventive Services Task Force whose recommendations set the tone for medical practice in this country this uncertainty led to a lot of inconsistency around how vitamin D insufficiency was defined in studies. Different professional bodies also back different minimum blood levels, usually ranging from 20 to 30 ng/mL.

Finally, there's some question of whether healthy (asymptomatic) adults who undergo routine screening for vitamin D actually see any health benefit as a result. The task force points out that there were no studies on the benefit of screening otherwise healthy adults, but it did find that putting them on treatment with supplements did not improve health outcomes for a range of issues, including cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and fractures.

"Although the evidence is adequate for a few limited outcomes, the overall evidence on the early treatment of asymptomatic, screen-detected vitamin D deficiency in adults to improve overall health outcomes is inadequate," the task force authors write in their latest guidance.

To clear up some of the uncertainty, the NIH has funded one of the largest randomized trials on vitamin D, with the results expected to be ready next year. Maybe then we'll have a better sense of what, if any, benefit this vitamin holds.

One of the authors on that study, Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, recently told the New York Times, A lot of clinicians are acting like there is a pandemic, of vitamin D deficiency. That gives them justification to screen everyone and get everyone well above what the Institute of Medicine recommends.

It's important to be clear that the task force is highlighting uncertainty around screening and treating asymptomatic people who don't have real signs of illness, such as broken bones, or other illnesses that can cause vitamin deficiencies, like liver disease or multiple sclerosis.

"For healthy individuals, if youre tired and weak, but its nondescript, this is a really tempting thing to do: measure vitamin D and then treat," Dr. Rosen, who is based at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute, warned. "But there just isn't enough evidence it does anything."

So, for example, if you were feeling a little low this winter and you ask for a vitamin D test, then find out your levels are hovering around 20 or 30 ng/mL, you can go on supplements. And there's no doubt that those supplements will raise your vitamin D levels, since researchers have found they are absorbed by the body very efficiently. Doctors just don't know whether that change actually has any health benefit.

Rosen also cautioned that the biggest misconception about vitamin D is the association between low vitamin D levels and disease risk. "There's this idea, if we treat you, not only will some of your symptoms get better but also your long-term health benefit will be enhanced," he said. Again, there's no good evidence that that's the case.

"Unless you really are truly symptomatic," Rosen summed up, "it might not be worthwhile to measure vitamin D, and tag you with the diagnosis of deficiency, when its not clear those levels make you deficient and youre not at risk for disease." In other words, beware of the vitamin D test.

Read this article:

Your vitamin D tests and supplements are probably a waste of money - Vox

Rising consumer awareness regarding proper weight management and improvement of muscular strength is likely to boost the demand of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in North America, over the years ahead.

Leading corporates including Microsoft, IBM, ExxonMobil, AT&T, GM, and GSK have increased expenditure for the development of gymnasiums and fitness centers in their commercial offices.

As a result, the health & wellness segment is expected to witness a noteworthy increase that is ultimately expected to play a crucial role in promoting the use of dietary supplements over the forecast period.

The North America dietary supplements market is expected to reach USD 68.22 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising consumer awareness regarding proper weight management and improvement of muscular strength is likely to boost the demand of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in North America, over the years ahead.

Consumers belonging to all age groups are focusing on enhancing their diet intake through utilization of nutritional food ingredients, owing to increasing publicity through media houses and e-commerce portals is expected to promote the scope of nutraceuticals including dietary supplements.

Leading corporates including Microsoft, IBM, ExxonMobil, AT&T, GM, and GSK have increased expenditure for the development of gymnasiums and fitness centers in their commercial offices. As a result, the health & wellness segment is expected to witness a noteworthy increase that is ultimately expected to play a crucial role in promoting the use of dietary supplements over the forecast period.

Further key findings from the report suggest: In terms of revenue, minerals segment is estimated to be one of the fastest growing segments and is likely to expand at a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period, owing to significant usage of mineral-based dietary supplements in the U.S. and Canada Liquid product segment is expected to provide considerable scope for market growth and is estimated to account for a revenue of USD 10.40 billion by 2025, as a consequence of rising clinical nutrition products demand for prevention of malnutrition Medicinal supplements application constituted a revenue of USD 6.40 billion in 2016 and is likely to expand at a robust growth rate by 2025, owing to rising health risks pertaining to cardiovascular, obesity, and gastrointestinal disorders Mexico is projected to witness fastest industry growth during the forecast period, owing to rising usage of ingredients such as botanicals and vitamins among children, infants, and adult age groups Amway Corporation, Pfizer Inc., NBTY, Inc., and Herbalife International are the key players that collectively accounted for over 15% market share of the global industry in 2016 Companies are focusing on strengthening their presence as key players, by forward integrating their business operations across the value chain and through implementing strategies such as distribution agreements and new product launches. In April 2016, Amway Corporation launched a new sports nutrition product line to cater to the regional demand. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04946474/North-America-Dietary-Supplements-Market-Analysis-By-Ingredient-Botanicals-Vitamins-Minerals-By-Product-Tablets-Capsules-Gel-Caps-By-Application-By-End-use-And-Segment-Forecasts.html

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com

__________________________ Contact Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-america-dietary-supplements-market-is-expected-to-reach-usd-6822-billion-by-2025-300476128.html

SOURCE Reportlinker

http://www.reportlinker.com

Go here to read the rest:

North America Dietary Supplements Market is expected to reach USD 68.22 billion by 2025 - PR Newswire (press release)

Photo: Contributed / Contributed

FDA urges caution about bodybuilding supplements

Its beach season and, while some might turn to bodybuilding supplements to get their body sand-and-sun-ready, experts said not all of these products are safe.

According to a consumer safety release from U.S. Food and Drug Administration, bodybuilding products that contain steroids or steroid-like substances are associated with potentially serious health risks, including liver injury. Some of the liver injuries were life-threatening, said Mark S. Miller, FDA regulatory review officer, in the statement.

In addition to liver injury, anabolic steroids have been associated with serious reactions such as severe acne, hair loss, altered mood, irritability, increased aggression, and depression. They have also been associated with life-threatening reactions such as kidney damage, heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs), and deep vein thrombosis (blood clots that occur in veins deep in the body).

These bodybuilding products are promoted as hormone products and/or as alternatives to anabolic steroids for increasing muscle mass and strength. Many of these products make claims about the ability of the active ingredients to enhance or diminish androgen, estrogen, or progestin-like effects in the body, but actually contain anabolic steroids or steroid-like substances, synthetic hormones related to the male hormone testosterone.

Some who use bodybuilding products engage in stacking, using multiple products (including stimulants or products providing false assurances of liver protection) to enhance results or gains. These combinations may put consumers at greater risk for serious and life-threatening reactions.

If youre taking any body building products that claim to contain steroids or steroid-like substances, the FDA recommends that you stop taking them immediately because of the potentially serious health risks associated with using them. The agency also recommends that you talk to your health care professional about any body building products and/or ingredients you have taken or are planning to take, particularly if you are uncertain about those ingredients. You should also talk to your health care professional if you are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products, particularly nausea, weakness or fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), or brown or discolored urine.

The FDA encourages consumers and health care professionals to report adverse events or serious side effects related to the use of these products to the FDAs MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

Here is the original post:

FDA urges caution about bodybuilding supplements - CT Post

Maggie O'Neill, HealthSource 2:02 p.m. PT June 20, 2017

Bowel movements can tell a variety of details about the eating habits of a person, including the type of food consumed, the diet that is generally followed and even whether supplements or medications are taken.(Photo: gpointstudio/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Like religion, politics and taxes, bowel movements fall into that realm of not-to-be-talked-about topics. However, bowel movements can tell a variety of details about the eating habits of a person, including the type of food consumed, the diet that is generally followed and even whether supplements or medications are taken.

"Bowel movements are part of our overall health," said Tiffany Barnett, M.D., a doctor in family medicine with Renown Health Premier Care. "Every person has a unique bowel habit and timing, and what is normal for one person may not be normal for their spouse or neighbor."

While it may be typical for one person to have a bowel movement up to three times a day, another person could have a bowel movement every two to three days, she said. However, a 'typical' bowel movement should be shaped and also be brown in color. It also should have a consistency much like soft serve ice cream, according to Barnett.

Nearly everyone knows the results and unpleasant effects of stools that are not regularly consistent. When stools become too loose, diarrhea occurs, but when stools become too hard constipation is the result, Barnett said. Many causes for constipation exist and not just inadequate fiber intake. Other factors include changes in the diet, dehydration, decreased mobility, pregnancy, travel and narcotics, she said.

It is when stools change from their typical appearance or when they cause discomfort during a bowel movement that it may be time to see a doctor.

"Most people do not think much about [bowel movements] too much and that is how it should be," said Erik DeJonghe, an M.D. at Digestive Health Reno. "A change is always important from previous habits and should be looked at."

Changes in stool can occur for a variety of reasons. One cause is medication, particularly medication that has been prescribed for cholesterol, depression, chronic pain or hypertension, said DeJonghe, who also has a master's degree in public health. Another cause for a change is a viral or bacterial infection. Additionally, a chronic illness like diabetes or even a thyroid malfunction, can lead to changes in stool. Alcohol, chewing gum, caffeine, nicotine and soda also can have effects on stools.

"Certain medications, supplements and food items can cause harmless changes in bowel movement color and consistency," Barnett said.

The color of stools can change day to day, depending on what was consumed. Consider that iron supplements and Pepto-Bismol can turn stools gray or black in color, as can medications and supplements,DeJonghe said.

Stools that are yellow-ish in color can be a reflection of excessive fat in consumed foods. Red-colored stools can be the result of eating beets, cranberries, Jell-O or red juices. Green-colored stools, along with diarrhea, indicate that the bile in the body has not had enough time to do its job, which isto break down food,DeJonghe said. Clay-colored stools signal that the bile in the body is not flowing properly, he said.

One of the best ways to stay regular is to consume 20-35 grams of fiber-rich foods daily, Barnett said. Not sure which foods fall into this category? Beans, fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains are among the fiber-rich options. And, of course, there are lower-fiber foods that should be avoided, particularly when the aim is to become more regular. Items on this list include cheese, ice cream, meat and processed foods. High sugar foods also should be avoided, she said.

Water is an essential component to good digestion and good bowel movements, too.

"You should also drink at least 64 ounces of water each day, reduce stress, exercise daily, avoid reliance on laxatives and do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement," Barnett said.

Read or Share this story: http://www.rgj.com/story/life/wellness/2017/06/20/bowel-movements-can-reflect-what-you-eat/414022001/

See more here:

'Normal' bowel movements vary from person to person - Reno Gazette Journal

The Arkansans Food Bank's Free Summer Meals forChildren has added a new opportunity for participants this year. Children are given "backpacks" of food for the weekend after they finish theirFridaysupper. Pictured in front of the trailer of 100 bags of weekend food are James White, assistant director; Haley Mora, park assistant; Queen Ester, Lake View site supervisor; Shirley Jimmerson, Lake View assistant; and Levetrius Thomas, cook. The Arkansas Food Bank and its Phillips County Partner, Waves of Prayer, are equal opportunity providers.

The Arkansans Food Bank's Free Summer Meals forChildren has added a new opportunity for participants this year. Children are given "backpacks" of food for the weekend after they finish theirFridaysupper. Pictured in front of the trailer of 100 bags of weekend food are James White, assistant director; Haley Mora, park assistant; Queen Ester, Lake View site supervisor; Shirley Jimmerson, Lake View assistant; and Levetrius Thomas, cook. The Arkansas Food Bank and its Phillips County Partner, Waves of Prayer, are equal opportunity providers.

More here:

Backpack meal supplements - Newport Independent

The Centre of Awareness (COA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and a medicine manufacturing firm, has dismissed claims that it advertises and promotes its COA FS food supplement as a cure for HIV and AIDS.

According to the centre, the product is registered with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) as a food supplement that boosts the immune system and not a therapy for HIV and AIDS or a replacement for anti-retroviral drugs (ARTs).

It has, therefore, cautioned the public to desist from spreading false information about the centre and its products.

Reactions

A few months ago, the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC) and the Regional AIDS Committee ordered the COA to halt all adverts in the media about the supplement being a substitute for ARTs.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday, however, the Executive President of the centre, Dr Samuel Ato Duncan, said the company had not run any adverts to that effect.

There is only one advertisement approved by the FDA, which is played on two programmes; namely, The Miser shown on GTV and the R&L Show on Joy Prime TV, featuring Kwame Djokoto, an actor, and a lady.

The COA FS is described only as an immune booster and not a cure for HIV and AIDS in that advertisement. So it is wrong for anyone or an institution to allude that the centre has put out adverts to deceive the public, he said.

Dr Ducan said he believed some people were out to tarnish the hard-earned image of the company, but that would not wash since the product had been globally accepted.

The centre also gave opportunities to some users of COA FS, including rapper OJ Blaq, to give testimonies about how it had improved their general wellbeing since they started using it.

About COA FS

COA FS is a plant extract which supports the immune system to fight chronic diseases such as HIV and AIDS, hepatitis, liver disorders, cancers, hypertension, diabetes, and other blood-related diseases.

It has been scientifically tested by the Centre for Plant Medicine at Akuapem Mampong and the Nugochi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, as well as other international bodies as an immune booster.

Though Dr Duncan emphasised that the COA FS was not a remedy for HIV and AIDS, it was likely that due to its efficacy, some dealers and suppliers of the food supplement were misinforming the public in that regard.

Aims of the centre

Dr Duncan reaffirmed the centres resolve to produce medicines that would help to treat diseases and ailments.

One of the aims of the centre is to research and develop medicines that can treat diseases that affect the wellbeing of humanity, he said.

Dr Duncan also cautioned the public not to rely on chemical-based food supplements as that could be harmful to ones health, the reason for which we developed the COA FS.

He stated that the product was already available in countries such as Germany, United Kingdom,South Africa, Sierra Leone, Canada, the United States, Spain and Belgium.

We, therefore, urge the general public, especially our clients, to disregard the erroneous impression being created by some people that the product is not safe and should not be taken by anybody, he added.

Read the rest here:

Ghana news: Centre of Awareness clears air about food supplement ... - Graphic Online

The Arkansans Food Bank's Free Summer Meals forChildren has added a new opportunity for participants this year. Children are given "backpacks" of food for the weekend after they finish theirFridaysupper. Pictured in front of the trailer of 100 bags of weekend food are James White, assistant director; Haley Mora, park assistant; Queen Ester, Lake View site supervisor; Shirley Jimmerson, Lake View assistant; and Levetrius Thomas, cook. The Arkansas Food Bank and its Phillips County Partner, Waves of Prayer, are equal opportunity providers.

The Arkansans Food Bank's Free Summer Meals forChildren has added a new opportunity for participants this year. Children are given "backpacks" of food for the weekend after they finish theirFridaysupper. Pictured in front of the trailer of 100 bags of weekend food are James White, assistant director; Haley Mora, park assistant; Queen Ester, Lake View site supervisor; Shirley Jimmerson, Lake View assistant; and Levetrius Thomas, cook. The Arkansas Food Bank and its Phillips County Partner, Waves of Prayer, are equal opportunity providers.

Read more from the original source:

Backpack meal supplements - Arkansas News