Tag Archives: obesity

What Nutrients Are Missing in Your Diet?

WhatsMissingDietJacquie Eubanks RN BSN

If you are focused on losing body fat or increasing lean muscle mass, chances are you are concentrating on your caloric intake, as well as placing your focus on your macronutrient intake, the proteins, carbohydrates and dietary fats that are all a necessary part of a healthy diet. Or, perhaps you follow the standard American diet consisting of foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, leading to hunger and overconsumption of far too many empty calories, as the body strives to get the nutrients it needs for proper function. While one of these dietary approaches may be viewed as healthier than the other, chances are neither will consistently deliver sufficient micronutrients necessary for overall good health and bodily functions, leading to a dietary deficiency in vitamins and minerals or micronutrient malnutrition.

While the general nutrition advice is to eat a “balanced” diet, many of us are not sure what that really means and so tend to make choices we like, not necessarily those that are best for heath. Dietary trends over time show Americans are not following healthy eating patterns and are deficient in the micronutrients necessary to maintain optimal health and prevent nutrient deficiency diseases. According to the American Dietetic Association, although deficiencies of essential nutrients have decreased over the last century, the rates of chronic diseases, many of which are related to poor quality diet and a sedentary lifestyle, have dramatically increased to the point where approximately 50% of American adults have one or more preventable diet-related chronic disease.

Key dietary recommendations suggest following a healthy eating pattern that focuses on variety across all food groups, nutrient density and portion size. An eating pattern can be described as a combination of foods and beverages that constitute a person’s complete dietary intake over time. Nutrient density encompasses foods and beverages that provide vitamins, minerals, naturally occurring components such as fiber, and beneficial phytonutrients, all of which have positive effects on health. Variety refers to consuming a diverse assortment of foods and beverages from all food groups, without exceeding limits for calories and other components, such as added sugars and sodium.

Nutrition and physical activity-related health conditions include:

  • Obesity – For the past 25 years, more than half of the adult population has been overweight or obese, especially those aged 40 and older. Abdominal obesity prevalence now affects half of U.S adults of all ages. Nearly one in three youths aged 2 – 19 are overweight or obese.
  • Cardiovascular disease – Three-fourths of those who are overweight and half of those who are normal weight have at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, including high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, diabetes or smoking.
  • Diabetes – 2012 statistics showed that over 29 million adults have type 2 diabetes. Highly prevalent in the senior population, the rates of diabetes among young adults and children is steadily rising.
  • Cancer – Breast cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., followed closely by colorectal cancer, the second leading cause.
  • Bone disease – Bone disease is common in the U.S., especially among the elderly, which puts them at risk of fractures. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 10 million people currently have osteoporosis and another 18 million are at risk of developing the disease. By 2020, one in two Americans is expected to have or be at risk of developing osteoporosis of the hip.

With the abundance of food available in the U.S., one might assume that Americans are well nourished and that nutrient deficiencies are no longer a health issue. Contrary to what the media may have you believe; deficiencies are very much present. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a major program of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is responsible for producing vital health statistics for the U.S. This includes an assessment of the health and nutritional status of American citizens. A 2015 analysis showed that approximately 31% of adults had one nutrient deficiency, 6% had 2 nutrient deficiencies, and 2% had 3 or more deficiencies. They concluded that about 1 out of 3 Americans have at least one vitamin or mineral deficiency.

Despite recent arguments that dietary supplement users are wasting their money, data shows that adults who take full-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplements have a significantly lower prevalence of deficiency as compared to non-users. In fact, non-users are 2.5 times more likely to have a deficiency compared to a full-spectrum multivitamin user. Data continues to show that individuals, even those who follow a whole food diet, who take a daily multi are more likely to fill any nutritional gaps and achieve micronutrient sufficiency. As far as your money goes, the cost of a multivitamin supplement is likely the least expensive health insurance you can buy!

Professional Supplement Center carries these and other high quality vitamin and mineral supplements to support optimal wellness:

UltraNutrient by Pure EncapsulationsUltraNutrient® by Pure Encapsulations – This advanced formula provides exceptional broad spectrum, bioavailable nutritional support with a full spectrum of core vitamins and minerals, advanced antioxidants, standardized phytonutrient extracts and botanicals for enhanced antioxidant, cardiovascular, liver and overall wellness support. Gluten and soy free, Non-GMO vegetarian formulation.

Ultra Preventive Teen (201036) by Douglas LaboratoriesUltra Preventive Teen by Douglas Laboratories – This unique, carefully designed supplement is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of teenagers. Vanilla flavored, easy-to-swallow tablets provide over 30 vitamins, minerals, trace elements and other nutrients in bioavailable form to support growth and development and good health maintenance. Gluten and soy free, vegetarian formulation.

Multigenics® Chewable Orange by Metagenics®Multigenics® Chewable Orange – This comprehensive bioavailable formula provides a broad spectrum of essential vitamins along with highly absorbable mineral amino acid chelates. Suitable for children and adults who prefer a great tasting, chewable tablet. Gluten and soy free, Non-GMO formulation.

Comprehensive Nutritional Panel by Spectracell LaboratoriesComprehensive Nutritional Panel by Spectracell Laboratories – This micronutrient test kit offers an accurate, scientifically proven assessment of nutritional deficiencies, including 31 vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidants and metabolites. This kit includes a complimentary post-test consultation with our Registered Nurse by phone or in person at our Sarasota location.

References:
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 -2020. https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/resources/2015-2020_Dietary_Guidelines.pdf
Overall Numbers, Diabetes and Prediabetes. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/
The Frequency of Bone Disease. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45515/
Osteoporosis/Bone Health in Adults as a National Public Health Priority. http://www.aaos.org/CustomTemplates/Content.aspx?id=5604&ssopc=1
Think Nutrient Deficiencies are History in the US? Think Again. http://www.dsm.com/campaigns/talkingnutrition/en_US/talkingnutrition-dsm-com/2015/03/ExpBio_Abstract_586Point2.html
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/

Defining Wellness in 2016

wellnessJacquie Eubanks RN BSN

 

 

What does healthy mean to you? Is it simply the absence of disease or does it include a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, as defined by the World Health Organization? To maximize our potential for optimal health, we might add intellectual, emotional and spiritual wellbeing as well. The origin of the word health comes from the Old English word hale which translates to mean “wholeness, being whole, sound or well.” Many of us would agree that a balance of all the dimensions of health are equally important to achieve true wellness.

Yet, in general, the American population’s adherence to a healthy lifestyle has decreased over the last 2 decades:

  • Obesity is the new normal. While overweight and obesity rates in the U.S. climbed to 68.6%, research shows that 41% were happy with their current weight and 49% were twice as likely to want to lose weight than were actually taking steps to accomplish any weight loss. According to Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare poll, for the first time in 25 years less than half of Americans wanted to lose weight, down from 62% in 2004. Even though statistics show that obesity worldwide has become a great concern for global public health, a solid majority of Americans say their weight is “about right.”
  • Nope, not going to make those healthy lifestyle changes. While medical research shows that a person who has had a heart attack is at greater risk for another one, many are not making the necessary lifestyle changes to reverse or prevent cardiac disease, including getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, reducing stress or losing weight. Even though heart disease is preventable and in many cases reversible, statistics show that Americans who have survived a heart attack are less likely to eat a heart-healthy diet, engage in regular exercise, quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight or minimize stress, than those who have never had a heart attack.
  • Read any good books lately? You’re joking, right? While we are inundated with recommendations to reduce stress to support good health, almost half of Americans report being stressed for time. Studies show that nearly half of our children live in homes where both parents work full time. Parents find that trying to balance home and work life along with childcare responsibilities is stressful and many feel that they don’t get to spend enough time with their children, family members or friends, nor are they able to get adequate sleep.
  • Broccoli? No, thanks. Studies show that eating a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily allows people to live longer and healthier lives. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), optimal nutrition is the cornerstone of good health and disease prevention. If we are to succeed in significantly reducing excessive premature death and highly preventable chronic diseases, good nutrition is critical. Yet, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fully 87% of Americans don’t meet the daily recommendations for fruit consumption and 91% don’t meet the recommendations for vegetable consumption.

Good health may go unappreciated but should never be undervalued. The outstanding Greek physician Hippocrates reportedly stated, “A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings.” Hopefully in 2016 more Americans will begin to realize that health really is the true wealth and will start to take steps to improve their nutrition and lifestyle habits.

There’s plenty of room for improvement in 2016:

  • Seriously, carve out a bit of time each day to exercise. When we elevate the importance of exercise, most of us can manage to fit in 20 minutes of aerobic activity every day to reduce the risks of developing inflammatory and degenerative conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and a long list of other chronic diseases. Just a little exercise each day reduces stress, keeps your body toned and supports a healthy mood.
  • Eat more plant based foods. It’s not that hard to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your daily diet when you include some at every meal. By eating more plant based foods, you’re increasing your vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, phytonutrient and fiber intake. Adding a small salad at lunch and dinner time and including fresh fruit as dessert increases a feeling of satiety and helps you eat less overall, helping to reduce or maintain your weight and giving your body some much needed nutritional support.
  • Support your digestive health for overall good health. A healthy digestive system allows for absorption and utilization of the micro and macro nutrients your body requires, not only for optimal function, but for a fully functioning immune system also. An unhealthy digestive system triggers inflammation, the sneaky culprit behind disease progression. Many digestive issues can be resolved by supporting a healthy microbiome with a daily probiotic supplement and a nutritious diet that includes lots of fiber.
  • Regular sufficient sleep is the great healer. There’s no getting around it, we all need restorative sleep each night. Considering our time restraints and distractions these days, getting a good night’s sleep is a challenge. Sleep is an essential requirement for our physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing. Those of us who are chronically sleep deprived are more likely to develop chronic disease and obesity and to experience reduced productivity. To remain healthy and to function at your best, consider a good night’s sleep a necessity, not a luxury.
  • If you are going to make one change to your diet, greatly reduce your sugar intake. Heart disease, dementia and highly prevalent type 2 diabetes are linked to the predominant amounts of added sugars we consume. Take small steps to slowly wean yourself off added sugars by including more naturally sweet fruits, vegetables and dairy, while eliminating unhealthy sugary drinks and snacks.
  • Nutritional supplements aid in reducing nutritional deficiencies. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) concluded that we currently consume insufficient amounts of vitamins A, D, E and C, folate, calcium, magnesium, fiber and potassium and that this underconsumption is linked to adverse health outcomes. Malnutrition can result in unexplained weight loss, fatigue, frequent illness, an impaired immune response, poor concentration and depression. A nutritious diet along with high quality supplementation can support optimal bodily functions and metabolic processes and reduce your risks of developing poor health.

Professional Supplement Center offers these and other high quality supplements and nutraceuticals that support your wellness goals:

PGX DailyPGX® Daily by Bioclinic Naturals – This clinically studied formula supplies a highly viscous proprietary fiber blend in support of healthy glucose metabolism, improved regularity, increased satiety and reduced appetite. Gluten free.

 

UltraNutrientUltraNutrient® by Pure Encapsulations – This advanced hypoallergenic formula provides high potency, broad-spectrum, enhanced nutritional support for the cardiovascular system and optimal liver function. The gluten and soy free, Non-GMO vegetarian formula contains bioavailable vitamins, minerals, botanicals and well recognized antioxidants.

 

Fiber Plus CapsFiber Plus Caps by Ortho Molecular – This blend of natural ingredients provides probiotics, bran, fruits and fiber in support of healthy bowel function, regularity and long term maintenance of healthy bowels. Gluten and soy free.

 

MegaFlora Plus (HEAT SENSITIVE PRODUCT)MegaFlora® Plus by MegaFood – This proprietary probiotic blend supplies 50 billion CFU per capsule in support of intestinal health, bowel regularity and a healthy immune response. Gluten, soy and dairy free, this product is especially helpful in restoring the microbiome after a course of antibiotics.

 

Multi-Mins (Iron & Copper Free)Multi-Mins™ Iron and Copper Free by Biotics Research – Multi-Mins™ provides a balanced source of mineral chelates, whole food, phytochemically bound trace minerals, antioxidant enzymes and Betaine HCI to facilitate absorption. Gluten free. Also available as Multi-Mins™ with iron and copper.

References:
What is Health? What Does Good Health Mean? http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150999.php?page=2
Health Habits. The 2015 Year in Review at Gallup.com. http://www.gallup.com/topic/health_habits.aspx
Obesity Rates & Trends Overview. http://stateofobesity.org/obesity-rates-trends-overview/
Stressed, Tired, Rushed: A Portrait of the Modern Family. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/05/upshot/stressed-tired-rushed-a-portrait-of-the-modern-family.html?_r=0

Is Obesity The New Normal?

ObesitySusanBiconBy Susan Brown
Health & Wellness Editor
 

Obesity affects people of all ages and incomes and is steadily increasing, not just in the U.S. but globally as well. As acceptance of obesity becomes more widespread, our perception of what constitutes a normal healthy weight is changing. Apparently, Americans now fail to recognize an unhealthy body weight, even as we are undergoing a population-wide obesity epidemic. Even more alarming, parents don’t notice that their children are overweight when they themselves may also be obese. When obesity becomes increasingly normalized, we are less likely to consider it a problem. The reality is that there are real health concerns and increased risk factors for chronic disease connected to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome and premature death. While our weight is on a steady incline, our health is on a steady decline.

Obesity is changing the world around us. Society is adapting by creating products to accommodate larger folks. Already hefty restaurant portions are increasing, door frames are getting wider and clothing sizes are subtly changing. A dress that was considered a size 8 in the 1950’s is now labeled a size 4, a perfect example of clothing manufacturers adapting to people’s growing sizes while not drawing attention to the fact. Another clever trick, not changing the label size but adding inches of material all around. These changes mean a person can gain 10 – 20 pounds and still fit into the same clothing size. It may stroke someone’s ego, but in the long run may also be increasing their risk of having an actual stroke. Sadly, even coffins are larger than ever, with one company manufacturing triple wide coffins that can hold a 700 pound person. 700 pounds! Something is terribly wrong here.

Many businesses are adapting to accommodate larger sized employees, as they see the value of highly productive workers who just happen to be obese. Some are creating special parking spots or are providing bigger office chairs, while some even remodel their office space to create a larger area between the desk and the wall. Doctor’s scales that used to top out at 300 pounds now allow for 400 or 500 pounds One place where you won’t see accommodation changes any time soon relates to airline seats. Individual passenger space is getting smaller not larger, with some airlines charging passengers for a second seat if they can’t comfortably lower the armrests. At issue is neighboring passenger comfort, as well as concerns over swift evacuation of obese persons and possible hindrance of others in an emergency.

A good two-thirds of our population is now considered obese. Obesity doesn’t occur overnight and weight gain is gradual. Increasingly, research indicates a new class of severely obese kids is steadily rising from the merely overweight to the more concerning extreme obesity. Growing children have traditionally been on the thin side as they burned up their energy running and playing outdoors. Now, inactivity, socioeconomic status, unhealthy diets, environmental influences and parents who are overweight themselves are all seen as contributors to the epidemic. Children can be set on a path to lifetime obesity by the age of 2, as statistics show that obese children have a 70% greater chance of obesity in adulthood. Of large concern is the failure of parents to recognize obesity in their own children, as gradual weight changes are largely invisible.

Despite being essentially preventable, childhood obesity has become a significant problem that can cause a multitude of health issues including diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease and hypertension. In order to improve their children’s health and self esteem, parents will need to recognize and accept their child’s weight problem yet encourage and support increased activity and the necessary dietary changes. Unfortunately, as excess weight becomes increasingly normalized, we are no longer alarmed by it and we are doing ourselves and our children a disservice. Early intervention is the key to preventing a lifetime of health problems related to excess weight.

The question remains, should we continue to tackle the obesity epidemic by installing larger seats at stadiums and theaters, which means fewer seats and higher tickets prices? Should hospitals be expected to stock heavy duty wheelchairs and stronger beds? Or should we expect people to turn their lives around and take control of their weight and their long-term health and longevity? When manufacturers compare chairs made with larger seats to a pair of comfy jeans and clothing companies continue to disguise true clothing sizes, it seems quite a huge (no pun intended) expectation to predict that the obesity epidemic will abate any time soon. When excess weight becomes increasingly normalized, we may fail to see our child, the person sitting next to us or the person in the mirror as overweight.

As our collective perception of normal weight is becoming increasingly skewed, the negative effects on our societal long-term public health is more than a little concerning. Alarmingly, the U.S. could be facing its first sustained drop in life expectancy in modern times. Over the next few decades, life expectancy for the average American, especially children and young adults, could decline by as much as 5 years, unless aggressive efforts are made to slow the rising and unprecedented normalization of obesity rates,. “Obesity is such that this generation of children could be the first basically in the history of the United States to live less healthful and shorter lives than their parents,” said Dr. David S. Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children’s Hospital Boston. Very concerning, indeed.

References:
How obesity is reshaping our world.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-12354738
Severe Childhood Obesity Worrying Doctors.
http://www.medicaldaily.com/severe-childhood-obesity-worrying-doctors-fat-becomes-new-normal-275082
Workplaces Feel The Impact of Obesity.
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/27/141760591/workplaces-feel-the-impact-of-obesity
Obesity Is Now So Normal That Parents Can’t See It in Their Kids. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/obesity-is-now-so-normal-that-parents-can-t-see-it-in-their-kids/